Oil Change International

Fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas, are currently the world’s primary energy source. Used for transport and electricity, among other things, the fossil fuel industry is currently worth around USD 5 trillion. However, as well as being a finite resource, fossil fuels cause irreparable harm to the environment. For example, the burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases that could potentially lead to catastrophic changes for the earth’s climate.

Oil Change International is a research, communication and advocacy organisation focused on exposing the true costs of fossil fuels and facilitating the coming transition towards clean energy. Oil Change has been an Oak partner with the Environment Programme since 2014.

Oil Change concentrates on four main issues: extreme fossil fuels; the politics of oil; energy transitions and international energy finance. According to Oil Change, the greatest barriers to clean energy (renewable energy sources such as hydro-electricity, solar or wind energy) are political, not technical. Over the last decade, over USD 1.7 billion has been paid by oil, gas and coal industries through lobbying and campaign contributions to influence US congress. Governments around the world also continue to subsidise fossil fuels – a recent Oil Change International report finds that G20 governments alone are providing USD 444 billion annually in financial support to the oil, gas, and coal industries.

Through research, campaigns, policy forums and organised resistance, Oil Change is challenging the influence of the fossil fuel industry. “We focus on the fossil fuel industry because we view the production and consumption of oil, gas and coal as sources of global warming, human rights abuses, war, national security concerns, corporate globalisation, and increased inequality,” says Steve Kretzmann, executive director and founder of Oil Change International.

In 2015 Oil Change contributed to major victories in the field, including the rejection of Keystone XL, the retreat of Shell from Arctic drilling and the rebirth of a strong, global movement for climate justice. Find out how you can get involved and learn more about Oil Change’s work by visiting its website.